Owned by Lexington Homes: I've been a tenant here for just under a month, and I have to say, more…read morethan mildly dissatisfied Already.
*-My partner and I were promised a loft on the second floor. We got a suite on the first floor. First black mark.
-Second problem, The place was improperly cleaned and maintenance had not been performed previous to move in. There is evidence of previous renter having cats (To which, I am highly allergic) and a ceiling fan in the bedroom was inoperable upon move in.
-Second problem, a pipe burst just before we moved in, so the place is torn apart right now. I am reluctant to have anyone over....
-Third, (and worst) problem: We recently had a major thaw here, which resulted in water pouring out of the walls and saturating the bedroom carpet. The Steam-Pro technician divulged that this same problem happened last year around the same time and in the exact same unit. He was there two days in a row to clean the place out. Part two of this, is that I am highly allergic to mold, and am now experiencing the effects of exposure to a fairly extreme degree. The corporate office offered to let us out of our lease, (I'm not sure I want to do that, since I'm certain I won't get the total $500 back,) instead of offering another (temporary) unit until another one we desired came available)
-The fourth problem is noise. For a building with such strict noise policies, I am surprised they have not evicted the couple living above us. Loud voices on the weekends going well past midnight, Banging, thumping and running sounds starting at midnight, not ending until after 2 AM... This is not a college dorm, why should I have to live like it is one?
Now for the good (I guess...)
-The building manager is extremely sweet and understanding, and put us on a waiting list for a loft unit. Very apologetic when the water problem happened. She also told me she would inquire about putting us in a more expensive unit until the one we want comes available. She did inquire about putting us in a more expensive unit until the one we want comes available, but the corporate office declined that and rented it out.
*Another KIND OF good thing, is that they offered to let us out of our lease...but again, I'm not sure of the repercussions of this will be.
-This is a newer building, about 5 years old.
-The units are very contemporary/modern and open concept.
-Giant pantry, two huge closets in the living area and a sizable walk in closet in the bedroom (This is in the suite unit.)
-The fixtures (except for the bathroom) are pleasing to the eye
-The kitchen cabinetry is wood veneer, but the finish does not look outdated at all. The hardware on said cabinetry is contemporary/modern.
-Though not "high end," the appliances are adequate, and not unattractive
- the walls have a texture and are not blindingly white, where most places have flat walls and "snowblind" colored walls.
-The doors in the unit are painted metal, instead of hollow-core wood veneer (the majority of apartments have the latter, I assume because they are cheap to replace.)
-The carpet is not unattractive, but is still of the type that is designed to hide stains. No complaints, but no rave review here.
-My building has heated underground parking, with a small raised area for storage of garage type things. Parking is tight where my car is, but manageable.
*Location:
The location of this unit is set back in a very low traffic, residential area. It is great if you want to escape the noise of a unit in the middle of a city.
-The downfall of the location, is actually caused by the aforementioned benefit. The complex is located nearly a mile from the closest bus route, and at least a mile from essential places. EX: Grocery, hardware, auto parts, clothing, pharmacy. Do not live here if you do not own a car.
-*Rent cost is not wholly unreasonable for a newer, up to date facility. Under $500 for a studio, $615 for a smaller (second floor) loft or a first floor suite. $660 for a large loft that reaches up to the roof of the building, equipped with a big bay window and a view of a man-made lake with fountains.
-*Cost of living: This is where it gets muddy. They pay for water, but the electric is all on you. This wouldn't be horribly bad, but the A/C and Heat are the same unit...electric. With our winters, that can make for a VERY expensive cold season.
-Some detail on the HVAC unit in the apartments. It is an Energy Star rated TRANE brand unit, so in theory, not a "wasteful" one. The problem is, it seems to have difficulty heating the living area (kitchen, living room.) The bedroom has an electric heat register on the floor, which keeps it quite comfortable. This is, of course, if you keep the bedroom door shut.
Overall livability, (provided you do not have a disrepair issue like mine,) I would rate as "good, but not ideal."
Beware corporate: Seem quick to pass you off if you have an issue, slow to process rent checks, and charge $50 late fee